SpatialNews Press Release

Northeast Utilities Selects GE Smallworld Software for Enterprise Solution

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DENVER, May 31, 2001-- New England utility looks forward to increased functionality and enterprise-wide access to its geospatial system

GE Smallworld, a leading provider of utility network management solutions, announced today that Northeast Utilities, the largest energy company in New England, has selected GE Smallworld software as its enterprise geospatial platform. Northeast Utilities serves 1.77 million electric and natural gas customers throughout the northeast region of the United States. The GE Smallworld software replaces a proprietary legacy system and provides Northeast Utilities with a host of efficient tools for managing their distribution network.

According to Carolyn Schmitt, manager of GIS & distribution operations at Northeast Utilities, "We wanted to alleviate the risks inherent in an older system with limited functionality. GE Smallworld software provides desktop access and out-of-the-box usability, in addition to user-friendly design, planning, and network management tools." The software will help the utility move to an enterprise solution as well as improve data accessibility, increase productivity, and provide enhanced query and reporting capabilities.

Convergent Group (Englewood, Colorado) is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the Northeast Utilities project, and will be migrating the utility's legacy spatial information management system to the GE Smallworld system using Convergent Group's Model Office? Energy Network Object Model (ENOM). Under a subcontracting agreement with Convergent Group, GE Smallworld will be providing their following software solutions: Core Spatial Technology, Internet Application Server, Spatial Intelligence, and several timesaving RAD tools. The new geospatial system will be accessible by Northeast Utilities engineers, technicians, and field crew. Full implementation is scheduled to be complete by the first quarter of 2002. In a phased approach, Northeast Utilities plans to migrate data from the recently acquired Yankee Gas Division (stored in another legacy system) over to the GE Smallworld software platform, as well as integration with other business systems throughout the utility.

After gaining executive management support for updating their system, Northeast Utilities released an RFP and attended the GITA conference in Denver last year. "We were quite impressed with the GE Smallworld software demonstrations," said Carolyn. "When the time came to make our final system determination, GE Smallworld had answered all of our questions and satisfied all of our requirements. We're really excited about the benefits we'll be gaining from our new system."

Northeast Utilities (NU) is an electric utility holding company registered under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 and is the parent company of the NU system, one of the 25 largest electric utility systems in the United States and the largest in New England. NU operates New England's largest energy delivery system and provides electricity, natural gas, and energy services to approximately 1.77 million customers throughout the Northeast. Its Select Energy subsidiary is one of the largest competitive energy suppliers in the region. As of March 1, 2000, the NU system also serves about 187,000 natural gas customers in Connecticut through its newly acquired subsidiary, Yankee Gas.

GE Smallworld creates, markets and delivers network software products to the Communications and Utility and Public Systems markets globally. GE Smallworld products model real world assets and services, enabling companies to understand where their facilities and customers are located and how they are connected, then seamlessly integrating this information across the enterprise. The company also provides services for rapid implementation and integration of GE Smallworld's object-oriented technology and vertical industry solutions, which can increase customer revenues, improve customer service, and better utilize assets. GE Smallworld (www.gepower.com) has more than 870 customers in 50 countries around the world. GE Smallworld was acquired by GE in October, 2000 and is a part of GE Power Systems.

GE Power Systems (www.gepower.com) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation technology, energy services and management systems with 2000 revenues of $15 billion. The business has the largest installed base of power generation equipment in the global energy industry. Through a series of acquisitions and alliances, GE Power Systems has expanded its portfolio of products, services, and software solutions to serve global customers. Recent acquisitions of rental equipment and industrial water treatment businesses demonstrate this commitment to serve the energy industry as well as a broader range of industries including telecommunications, entertainment, and high-tech manufacturing.

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